What will I be able to access?
All wireless Internet users at the twenty-eight rest areas are able to access road conditions, traveler information and other information offered on the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) Internet web site and related Web sites for no cost.

By logging on as a subscriber to Road Conenct, you can visit other Internet web sites.

Prices:

20 minutes - $1.99
Daily - $3.99
Weekly - $7.99
Monthly - $29.99

The freebie only gets you to were you can access road conditions, traveler information and other information offered on the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) Internet web site and related Web sites for no cost.

What will I be able to access?
All wireless Internet users at the twenty-eight rest areas are able to access road conditions, traveler information and other information offered on the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) Internet web site and related Web sites for no cost.

By logging on as a subscriber to Road Conenct, you can visit other Internet web sites.

Prices:

20 minutes - $1.99
Daily - $3.99
Weekly - $7.99
Monthly - $29.99

The freebie only gets you to were you can access road conditions, traveler information and other information offered on the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) Internet web site and related Web sites for no cost.

Two years after installing it at 28 of Washington's 42 rest areas, the state Department of Transportation is pulling the plug on Wi-Fi.

The problem?

"We didn't have a lot of subscribers," said Transportation Department spokeswoman Melanie Coon.

That might have something to do with pricing. The rest area Wi-Fi cost $6.95 per day, $29.95 per month and a whopping $2.95 for just 15 minutes of use.

Coon couldn't say how many people paid to access the Web from rest areas. Those data are handled by the companies that set up the system - Parsons Transportation Group and Road Connect Inc.

But she did know how many people used that Wi-Fi to access the Transportation Department's main page - which was free.From January to July 2008, seven people visited www.wsdot.wa.gov. This month, four did. Twenty million people a year visit Washington rest areas.

With no subsidies from the state and providers looking for revenue, you can see why this didn't work out.

The service was designed to complement Transportation Department's information system, which includes radio and 511 cell phone traffic alerts - and to encourage drivers to pull off the road and take a break once in awhile.

The Transportation Department will keep some of the system hardware after the service shuts down. Officials are hoping to use it to broadcast road conditions and travel alerts, Coon said.

Here's more info from WSDOT on the program and the shutdown. The last day of rest area Wi-Fi service - if anyone cares - is Sunday.

This post has been edited by Right Wing Wacko: 29 August 2008 - 12:38 AM

Two years after installing it at 28 of Washington's 42 rest areas, the state Department of Transportation is pulling the plug on Wi-Fi.

The problem?

"We didn't have a lot of subscribers," said Transportation Department spokeswoman Melanie Coon.

That might have something to do with pricing. The rest area Wi-Fi cost $6.95 per day, $29.95 per month and a whopping $2.95 for just 15 minutes of use.

Coon couldn't say how many people paid to access the Web from rest areas. Those data are handled by the companies that set up the system - Parsons Transportation Group and Road Connect Inc.

But she did know how many people used that Wi-Fi to access the Transportation Department's main page - which was free.From January to July 2008, seven people visited www.wsdot.wa.gov. This month, four did. Twenty million people a year visit Washington rest areas.

With no subsidies from the state and providers looking for revenue, you can see why this didn't work out.

The service was designed to complement Transportation Department's information system, which includes radio and 511 cell phone traffic alerts - and to encourage drivers to pull off the road and take a break once in awhile.

The Transportation Department will keep some of the system hardware after the service shuts down. Officials are hoping to use it to broadcast road conditions and travel alerts, Coon said.

Here's more info from WSDOT on the program and the shutdown. The last day of rest area Wi-Fi service - if anyone cares - is Sunday.